The veteran's claim for an increased rating and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected back disorder was denied. The RO found that the veteran's symptoms, while causing significant pain, did not meet criteria warranting higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed severe intervertebral disc syndrome but no more than severe intervertebral disc syndrome, which does not meet the criteria for a 60% rating (pronounced with persistent symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy).
- Claimed conditions
- Healed compression fracture of the body of L4 and left transverse process of L4
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2001
- Citation
- 0107913
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0107913.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected low back disorder. The RO had previously assigned a 40 percent disability rating for this condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected low back disorder. The RO had previously assigned a 40 percent disability rating for this condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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